Method of and apparatus for handling molds and ingots



Mazda 18, 1941. w. L. DITGES METHOD QF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MOLDS AND INGOTS Filed Sept. 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l March 18, 1941. 2,235,610

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MOLDS AND INGOTS w. L. DITGES fl o w Filed Sept. 12', 1940 March 18, 1941. w. L. DITGES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MOLDS AND INGOTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 12, 1940 allozuqp March 18, 1941. w. snags ua'mon OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MOLDS AND meows Filed Sept. 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 m WI. 1713,5365

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 Y UNITED- STATES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DLING MOLDS AND INGOTS William L. pages, Alliance, o assignor to The Morgan Engineering Company, Alliance, Ohio Application September 12,- 1940, Serial No. 356,549

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for stripping ingot molds and more particularly to a novel system. for use in removin relatively small ingots from molds.

Years ago there were three principal influences in the location of a steel plantcoal,'limestone and iron ore. Inasmuch as coal and limestone were found'in the same locality, and generally exist in territory which has ready sale for steel products, it has been the custom to build the steel mills near the source of the coal and lime-- stone and to transport the iron ore .to the mill.

' It was the universal custom to pour the steelmeant that the handling equipment was also huge, both in weight and capacity for work. Generally an overhead crane stripper was used, the crane of which not only had to lift the heavy molds but had to strip the large ingots from the molds. The subsequent reduction of these large ingots occurred first through the large blooming mills, and from there to the smaller mills, so that in order to obtain rolled sections of small area, it was necessary to have a large steel plant and a great outlay of capital. 7

With the development of hydro-electric power and the electric furnace, it is now possible to build a comparatively small steel-producing plant anywhere that one can obtain electric current, and inasmuch as a great deal of the alloysteel used in small rolled sections does not require large ingots nor large machinery to strip or handle them, one of the objects of my invention is to.

provide a relatively simple method and inexpen 35 sive apparatus for stripping the small ingots from their molds.

Another object is to supply anapparatus for this purpose by which stripping may be expedited. With the foregoing objects outlined and with 40 other objects in view which will appear as the A description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel method and details of apparatus hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whicht Fig. 1 is a front elevation of .the apparatus with one of the tilters removed to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of one of the tilters taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the mold and ingot-carrying car taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 5a are vertical sectional views respectively of the rear and front portions of the stripper; the section being taken on the line 5- of Fig. 2.

Before proceeding with a detailed description,

- I will first refer to Fig. 2 so that it may be noted that a number of filled molds 6,1 and 8 may be 5 deposited in vertical position by a crane (not shown) on a tilter 9 which will act to tilt the molds containing the ingots over into horizontal position on a carriage Ill. The latter is moved step by step toward the left so as to bring the 10 recumbent molds one at a time in front of the stripper H which serves to push the ingot out of the mold. When the ingots have been removed from the molds on the car, the latter is moved toward the left to a position in front of a second 15 tilter 12 which serves to remove the empty molds 8, I and 8' from the car and to bring them back' into upright position so that they may be simultaneously removed by the hooks l 3 (Fig. 1) which 1 are suspended from the crane. cranes are used, 'one may be employed to deposit I a serlesof molds on the'tilter 9 while-another series is being removed from the tilter [2. It will also be appreciated that instead of using two tilters, the molds after being stripped, might be returned to a position in frontof the tilter 9 so that the latter would not only deposit the filled molds on the truck but would remove the molds therefrom.

Referring now to the details of the apparatus, it will be noted that the-car has wheels l3 traveling on tracks I. The ends of the car are secured to the ends of a cable or chain IS, the latter passing about a driving I pulley l6 and a driven pulley l1. The driving pulley may be rotated by anysuitable prime mover; such as an electric motor l8, and-a reduction gear unit I!) may'be interposed .between the motor and the shaft 29 of the driven pulley. It is preferable to employ a motor which may be controlled by an operator 40 occupying a station where he can view the opera tion of the units from above so that th'e'carriage can not only be brought into positions for the reception and discharge pf the molds, but the molds can be lined up individually with a pointer 2| of the stripper when an ingot is to be removed from a mold. t I p t The car (0 is provided with a seriesof mold troughs or cradles 22, and upstanding posts 23 may be arranged at the end of each cradle adjacent to the tilterfto facilitate the depositing of molds from a tilter on-tothe carriage.

The tflters are of'substantially identical construction and are best shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in--'. ciusive- Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed Of course, if two 20 form 24 to receive the base 25 of the mold. The

latter is provided with opposed projections or flanges 26 and 21, the former to be engaged by the hook 28 of a latch 29, and the latter adapted to engage an upstandingwall 30 at one edge of the platform 24.

The platform is mounted on a horizontal shaft 3| supported by the frame 32 of the tilter, and a leg 33 depends from the platform and is provided with a guide projection 34 which travels between curved tracks 35, the center of curvature of which is co-axial with the axis of the shaft 3 I.

The leg 33 is providedwith a'shaft 36 to which are pivotally connected the forward ends of a pair of links 31, the rear ends of the latter being pivotally connected at 38 to a reciprocating cross head 39. The latter is secured to the forward end of a pistonrod 40, the rear end of which is provided with a piston 4| arranged to reciprocate in a stationary cylinder 42 having ports 43 and 44 at its end portions for the introduction and discharge of a pressure fluid which may also be controlled by the hereinbefore mentioned operator.

The tilter platform is provided at its rear portion with a horizontal shaft 45 on which the latch 29 is fixedly mounted, and it may be seen from Fig. 2 that the latch is of substantially the same length as the platform so that the hook 28 may engage a plurality of mold flanges at one time. As the rabbet or recess 46 of the latch extends for the full length of the latter, the mold flanges can slide horizontally lengthwise of the table, while the latter is in tilted position. This will be clear from Fig. 3 where the dotted lines indicate that the platform is in tilted position. If at this time, the molds are resting on the carriage and the carriageis moved along its track, the flanges 21 can slide on the wall 39, and the flanges 26 can travel along the latch 29.

The latch of each tilter is provided with a tail 41 carrying a roller 48 adapted to travel on a stationary curved track 49 (supported by frame 32) or to come to rest .beneath a recessed portion 50 of the said track, when the platform is in horizontal position.

The operation of the tilter may be readily understood from Fig. 3. If we assume that a pressure fluid is introduced at 44, it will push the piston 4| toward the left. The latter will pull along parts 40, 39 and 31, and as the links are connected to the leg 33 of the platform, the latter will be moved in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 3|. This will cause the roller 48 to move from the recess 50 on to the main portion of the'track- 49 so that the latch 29 will be closed or moved into gripping engagement with the mold flanges 26 before the table has been tilted very far. From this time on, the roller 48 rolls on the track 49 and holds the latch closed until the molds are deposited in recumbent positionon the carriage, Then while the table or platform is in tilted position with the track 49 coacting with the roller 48 and holding the latch closed, the car can shift toward the left (Figs. 1 and 2), to bring the filled molds one at a time in alignment with the stripper During such shifting, the parts 24, 28, 29 and 3|! act as a horizontal track along which the bases of the molds slide, If only one tilter is employed, the platform, of course, can remain tilted untilafter the ingots have been discharged, and then the carriage may be moved in a reverse direction to bring the flanges 26 of the mold into the latch 29, and finally the tilter may be returned to upright position to set the empty molds up where they may be removed by the crane. Of course, the table of the tilter will return to upright position by introducing pressure fluid into the cylinder through port 43 while discharging exhaust fluid through the port 44, and as the table returns to horizontal position, the roller 48'will move along the track 49 until it enters the recess 50 by gravity, in which position the latch will automatically open to allow the molds to be lifted from the tilter.

The stripper, as best shown in Figs. 5, 5a, is provided with a stationary frame 5| having upper and lower recessed jaws 52 and 53' to receive the flanges 26 and 21 of the molds as the latter are carried in a recumbent position by the carriage I0. A piston rod 54 of the stripper is adapted to enter a hole (not shown) in the bottom of each recumbent mold and push the ingot therefrom. The piston rod 54 is elongated and a portion of the same extends through a larger tubular piston or plunger 55 that moves in a cylinder 56 supplied with a pressure fluid inlet and outlet port 51.

The piston rod 54 has a plunger 59 at its rear end which travels in a cylinder 60. The latter is provided at its ends with pressure fluid inlet and exhaust ports 6| and 62. The piston rod 54 extends through a guide sleeve. 63 at one end of the cylinder 66 and also through the tubular piston 55, the forward end of the piston rod 54 being guided in a bearing 64 adjacent the laws 52 and 53. The larger piston has an inner abutment 65 adapted when the pistons are moved forwardly, to engage an abutment 66 on the piston rod 54. By such means, if the pressure fluid is introduced simultaneously into both cylinders 56 and 60, the combined force of the two pistons willnormal position, the pressure fluid will be introduced through the port 62 of the cylinder 60, and this will cause the smaller piston to travel 'rearwardly until the abutment 66 contacts abutment 65. From that time onward, the piston rod 54- will move the larger piston rearwardly until both pistons reach normal or retracted position.

Obviously the pressure fluid to the cylinders 56 and 60 may be controlled by the same operator who-controls the operation of the tilter and the carriage.

As each ingot is removed, the carriage will travel further toward the left in Fig. 1 until the empty molds are brought into engagement with the tilted platform of the tilter l2. When the latter is returned to upright position, the emptymolds will be in position for removal by the hooks l3 of the crane.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the ingot molds.are handled by the overhead crane which picks them up after the ingots have been poured on the pouring platform, and then deposits the ingot-filled molds in a vertical position on one tilter which tilts and transfers them to the car. The latter moves them one at a time into a position in front of the stripper station, and

tilter, which returns them to upright position so that they can be removed by the crane.

While I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of the invention in such manner that the same may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I am aware that changes might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of handling molds and ingots comprising depositing an ingot-filled mold in upright position at a tilting station, grasping the mold at such station and tilting the mold and ingot into horizontal position, then releasing the mold from such grasp and transferring the same while in horizontal position to a stripping station, removing the ingot from the mold at the stripping station, subsequently transferring the empty mold while in horizontal position to a tilter station, again grasping the mold and then returning the empty mold to upright position at the last-mentioned station, and finally removing the empty mold from the last-mentioned station. 2. A method of the character described comprising depositing an ingot-filled mold in vertical position at a tilting station, grasping the mold at such station and tilting said mold at said station into horizontal position, releasing the mold from such grasp and shifting the ingot-filled mold while in horizontal position in one direction toward a stripping station, removing the ingot from the mold at the stripper station while the mold is in horizontal position, transferring the empty "mold in the same direction toward a second tilting station, again grasping the mold and then returning the empty mold into vertical position at the second tilting station, and finally removing the empty mold from the second tilting station.

3. In a method of the character described, depositing a series of ingot-filled molds in upright position at a tilting station, simultaneously tilting said molds from upright to recumbent position, stripping the ingots from the molds while the latter are in recumbent position, transferring the empty molds to a tilting station, simultaneously returning the molds to upright position at the last-mentioned station, and removing the empty molds from the second mentioned tilting station.

4. In a method of the character described, depositing a series of ingot-filled molds in upright position at a tilting station, simultaneously tilting the ingot-filled molds into horizontal position, transferring the molds while in horizontal position to a stripping station and stripping the ingots from the molds one at a time at the stripping station, transferring the empty molds while in horizpntal position to a tilting station, simultaneously returning all of the molds of the series to upright position at the last-mentioned station, and removing the empty molds from the last-mentioned station. I,

5. In a method of the character described, depositing a series of ingot-filled molds in upright position at a first tiltingstation, simultaneously tiling the molds of the series into horizontal position, transferring the series of molds while in horizontal position to a stripper station and stripping the ingots from the molds one at a time at the stripper station, then while the molds are still in horizontal position transferring them to a second tilting station, simultaneously returning the series of vmolds at the second tilting station to upright position, and removing the empty molds from the second tilting station.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a tilter unit having a platform adapted to removably support a series of ingot-filled molds in upright position, a stripper unit arranged adjacent to the tilter unit, guides extending from one unit to the other; a carriage guided by said guides and adapted to travel from one unit to the other, means for tilting said platform to simultaneously transfer a series of ingot-filled molds from upright position into horizontal position on the carriage, means to cause the carriage to transfer the ingot-filled molds one by one from the tilter unit to a position in front of the stripper unit, and means associated with the latter for removing the ingots from the molds while the latter are in horizontal position.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a tilter unit having a platform adapted to removably support a series of ingot-filled molds in upright position, a stripper unit arranged adjacent to the tilter unit, guides extending from one unit to the other, a. carriage guided by said guides and adapted to travel from one unit to the other, means for tilting said platform to simultaneously transfer a series of ingot-filled molds from upright position into horizontal position on the carriage, means to cause the carriage to transfer the ingot-filled molds one by one from the tilter unit to a position in front of the stripper unit, means associated with the latter for removing the ingots from the molds while the latter are in horizontal position, and means operatively connected with the platform for automatically latching all of the molds of the series to the platform as the latter is movin the ingot-filled molds from upright to horizontal position.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a tilter unit having a platform adapted to removably support'a series of ingot-filled molds in up right position, a stripper unit arranged adjacent to the tilter unit, guides extending from one unit to the other, a carriage guided by said guides and adapted to travel from one unit to the other, means for tilting said platform to simultaneously transfer a series of ingot-filled molds from upright position into horizontal position on the carriage, means to cause the carriage to transfer the ingot-filled molds one by one from the tilter unit to a position in front of the stripper unit, means associated with the latter for removing the ingots 9. In an apparatus of the character described,

a' stripping unit adapted to strip ingots from molds one after the other, a tilter unit, guides extending from one unit to another, a carriage movable along said guides from one unit to another, and adapted to support a series of molds in horizontal position, said tilter unit being provided with a platform to removably support the molds, said carriage being arranged to bring the series of molds while in horizontal position from the stripper unit into interlockin engagement with said platform while the latter is in substantially vertical position, means associated with the platform to cause the latter to grip the molds, and means operatively connected with the platform to cause the latter to move to horizontal position whereby from horizontal to upright position.

10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pair of tilter units, a stripping unit arranged between the tilter units, horizontal tracks extending across the front of said units, a mold carriage adapted to travel on said tracks from one tilter unit to the stripping unit and from the latter to the other tilter unit, each tilter unit having a platform movable from horizontal to vertical position and automatic latching mechanism for securing a series of molds to the platform while the latter is moving from one position to the other, the latching mechanism of each tilter unit being of such form as to allow a series of molds supported by the carriage to move with the latter relatively to the platform of that tilter unit while the platform is in vertical position.

11. In combination, a tilter unit having a platform movable from horizontal to vertical position and vice versa, an automatic latch associated with the platform and adapted to interlock with the base of an ingot mold for holding the latter in contact with the platform while the platform is moving from horizontal to vertical position or vice versa, a mold carriage movable in a path arranged parallel to the axis of turning of said platform, a stripping unit arranged at one side of the tilting unit, and having jaws projecting into the path of movement of the carriage, said jaws being adapted to cooperate with a base of a mold to limit movement of the latter while an ingot is being removed from the mold, and the platform,

latching mechanism and jaws being constructed to v allow molds to be transported by the carriage relatively to the platform and jaws.

12. In mechanism of the character described, a stripping unit provided with plunger means and spaced jaws, a mold supporting carriage movable relatively to said jaws in a path at right angles to the axis of the plunger means, said carriage being adapted to support a mold in a horizontal position with its flanged base projecting laterally from the carria e so that it can automatically interlock with said jaws as the carriage travels relatively to the jaws, and means for forcing the plunger means toward the mold while it is supported by the carriage and interlocked with said jaws.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of tilting units, each having an elongated rocka-ble platform adapted to support a series of molds having basal flanges, an elongated latch extending along a marginal edge portion of each platform and adapted to interlock with basal flanges of the molds to secure the molds to the platform while the latter is moving from horizontal to vertical position and vice versa, means associated with each latch for moving it into latching position when a platform starts to move from horizontal to vertical position and to release the latch when it returns from vertical to horizontal Position. pp ng t arranged between the tilting units and having plunger means movable at right angles to the axes about which the platforms turn, tracks arranged parallel to said platforms and at right angles to the plunger means, a carriage adapted to receive a series of molds from one platform and to move them to a position in front of the stripper unit and then to a pogage the basal flanges of the molds while ingots are bein stripped from the molds, said jaws being shaped to allow the molds carried by the carriage to move past the jaws without interference, and means for forcing the plunger mechanism toward a mold while the latter is engaged by the jaws for forcing the ingots from the molds.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a mold tilting unit and an ingot stripper unit arranged side by side, tracks extending along the fronts of said units, a mold carriage mounted on said tracks and adapted to support a series of ingot molds while the latter are in horizontal position, and to transfer the molds from the tiltin unit to the stripper unit and vice versa, said tilt- .ing unit comprising a'pivotally mounted elongated platform adapted to contact the bases of a series of molds, an upright wall extending along one of the longitudinal edge portions of the platform, and to be contacted by base portions of the molds, an elongated pivoted latch extending along the opposite longitudinal edge portion of the platform and adapted to interlock with base portions of said molds to hold the molds in engagement with the platform while the latter is moving from horizontal to vertical position and vice versa, said latch and wall being of such shape as to allow the molds to travel with the carriage relatively to the platform while the latter is in vertical position, means associated with the latch for causing it to be automatically moved into latching position when the platform starts to tilt from horizontal to vertical position and to cause the latch a mold tilting unit and an ingot stripper unit arranged side by side, tracks extending along the fronts of said units, a mold carriage mounted on said tracks and adapted to support a series or ingot molds while the latter are in horizontal position, and to transfer the molds from the tilting unit to the stripper unit and vice versa, said tilting unit comprising a pivotally mounted elongated platform adapted to contact the bases of a series of molds, an upright wall extending along.

one of the longitudinal edge portions of the platform, and arranged to be contacted by base portions of the molds, an elongated pivoted latch extending along the opposite longitudinal edge portion of the platform and adapted to interlock with base portions of said molds to hold the molds in engagement with the platform while the latter is moving from horizontal to vertical position and vice versa, said latch and wall being of such shape as to allow the molds to travel with the carriage relatively to the platform while the latter is in vertical position, means associated with the latch for causing it to be automatically moved into latchingposition'when the platform starts to tilt from horizontal to vertical position and to cause the latch to be released when the platform is returning to horizontal position, and means for moving the platform from one position to the other, the last-mentioned means comprising a pressure fluid cylinder, and a piston movable in the cylinder and operatively connected to the platform.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, a mold tilting unit and an ingot stripper unit arranged side by side, tracks extending along the fronts ofsaid units, a mold carriage mounted on said tracks and adapted to support a. series of ingot molds while the latter are in horizontal position, and to transfer the molds from the tilting unit to the stripper unit and vice versa, said tiltins unit comprising a pivotally mounted elongated platform adapted to contact the bases of a series of molds, an upright wall extending along one of the longitudinal edge portions of the platform, and arranged to be contacted by base portions of the molds, an elongated pivoted latch extending along the opposite longitudinal edge portion of the platform and adapted to interlock with base portions of said molds to hold the molds in engagement with the platform while the latter is moving from horizontal to vertical position and vice versa, said latch and wall being of such shape as to allow the molds to travel with the carriage relatively to the platform while the latter is in vertical position, means associated with the latch for causing it to be automatically moved into latching position when the platform starts to tilt from horizontal to vertical position and to cause the latch to be released when the platform is returning to horizontal position, means for movin the platform from one position to the other. a leg depending from the platform, curved track means, and-guide means connected to the leg and travelling on said track means.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, a mold tilting unit and an ingot stripper unit arranged side by side, tracks extending along the fronts of said units, a mold carriage mounted on said tracks and adapted to support a series of ingot molds while the latter are in horizontal position, and to transfer the molds from the tilting unit to the stripper unit and vice versa, said stripper unit comprising spaced jaws adapted to interlock with the basal portions of the molds to hold a mold against movement in one direction while an ingot is .being stripped from the same, a small plunger arranged to reciprocate along an axis arranged midway between said jaws, a tubular plunger surrounding the smaller plunger, abutment means on the two plungers to cause the tubular plunger to exert force on the smaller plunger while both plungers are movin in one direction, a cylinder in which the tubular plunger reciprocates, a smaller cylinder in which a portion of the smaller plunger reciprocates, and means for introducing a pressure fluid into and discharging said fluid from said cylin- 18. In mechanism of the character described, a stripping unit provided with horizontal movable plunger means and spaced upper and. lower jaws, a mold supporting carriage movable horizontally relatively to said jaws, said carriage being adapted to support a mold in a horizontal position with its flanged base projecting laterally from the carriage so'that it can automatically interlock with said jaws as the carriage travels relatively to the jaws, and means for forcing the plunger means toward the mold while it is supported by the carriage and interlocked with said jaws.

WILLIAM L. DITGES. 

